Foot muscle exercising machine



0 m; 19 0. c. w. CLARK. 2,21 ,164

FOOT IIUSCLE EXERCISING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1957 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F v I I ""INV N OR' BY CW; CLARK ATTORNEY.

C. W. CLARK FOOT IIUSCLE EXERCISING QIAQHINE Oct. 8, 1940.

s- Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1. 1937 Fla. 4.

INVENTOR. C. W. C LA R-K 011%M ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED STATES PATE'NT" OFFICE roo'r MUSCLE EXERCISING MACHINE Charles W. Clark, Denver, 0010. Application June 1, 1937, Serial No. 145,807 21 Claims. (01. 128-25) This invention relates to improvements in foot muscle exercising machines.

Many people have more or less difficulty with their feet due to fallen arches or misplaced meta- 5 tarsal bones, and in many cases these are found to respond favorably to a treatment that consists primarily in exercising the foot by bending and twisting it in such a way as to loosen the Joints and strengthen the ligaments between the i bones as well as the muscles.

It is known that machines for this general purpose have been invented, but they are of a different construction and operate in a different 1 way.

15 It is the object of this invention to produce a machine which will impart to the foot a wabble movement about a stationary pivot so as to simulate the treatments that are given manually by the most advanced chiropodists.

20 Another object is to produce a machine in which the amount of the wabble can be adjusted from'a minimum to a maximum while the machine is running.

A further object is to produce a machine in 25 which the wabble movement is combined with either one or two vibratory movements.

A still further object is to produce a machine in which the parts are of simple, rugged construction and suited for mass construction.

30 Another object is to produce a machinewhich will be of neat appearance and of moderate weight and which can be readily transported from place to place.

The above and other objects that may become 35 apparent as the description proceeds are attained by a combination and arrangement of parts that will now bedescribed in detail, and reference for this purpose will now be had to the accompanying drawings in which the machine has I 40 been illustrated in its present preferred form and in which:

Figure, 1 is a. top plan view of the machine; Figure 2' is a side elevation thereof; Figure 3 is a section taken on line 33 Fig. 1;

45 Figure 4 is a section taken on line 44 Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 55 Figs. 1 and 6;

Figure 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly I in section looking in the direction of arrows 6-6 50 Fig. 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section, similar to that of Fig. 5, and shows the parts in a different position; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the foot plate.

55 In the drawings, reference numeral I0 designates the base of the machine and secured to the upper surface thereof is a motor H and a supporting bracket [2. The bracket has spaced feet i3 connected by a web l4, and its upper end is provided with spaced bearings l5 in which is 5 iournalled a shaft l6. Secured to this shaft,

.between the bearings I5, is a worm gear wheel l'l. Each bearing [5 has a projecting hub l8, and these form trunnions on which the frame I9 is adjustably mounted and to which it is at- 10 tached by means of the removable caps that are-held vin place by bolts 2|. Secured to the ends of shaft l6 are bevel gears 22. The motor shaft carries a worm 23 that engages and cooperates with the worm gear H, in the manner 16 shown in Fig. 3. The frame [3 is provided with two bearings 24 and 25 in which are journalled identical shafts 26constructed as shown in Fig. 5. Bearing 25 is interrupted in the manner shown in Figs. 1 20 and 5 and in the space between the two sections of this bearing, and non-rotatably attached to .the shaft is-an eccentric 21 carrying an eccentric strap 28 of the connecting rod 29. Bevel gears 30 areattached to the shafts 26 and mesh with 25 bevel gears 22.

Surrounding the bearings 24 and 25 are circular flanges 31, each of which has a circular flange 32 whose outer end terminates in a threaded section 33 to which the cam ring 34 is attached. 30

Flanges 32 serve as bearings for theannular bases 35 that carry diametrically positioned brackets 36 between the ends of. which the gimbal rings or frames 31 are pivoted. The cams 34 serve to keep the annular bases35 frommov- 35 ing outwardly away-from the flanges 3i and the bases are furthermore guided by the lugs 38 in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 5. Each ring 35 is provided with a downwardly projecting lug 39 and these are joined by a connecting rod 40. 40 The end of the connecting rod 29 is pivotally connected at 4| to the connecting rod 40 and therefore whenever the shaft 26, that carries the eccentric 21, is rotated, the annular bases, the brackets 36 and the gimbal rings 31 are oscillated about the centers of the shafts 26.

Foot plates 42, having spaced brackets 43, are pivoted to .the gimbal rings or frames 31 so as to rock about axes perpendicular to the axes of the pivotal connections of the gimbal rings and the brackets 36, in a manner shown most clearlyin Figs. 2 and 3. The foot plates or platforms 42 are larger than. the rings or frames 31 and are positioned above and entirely outside of the latter as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Secured to the under surface of each foot plate 421s a ball 1 race 43a and this cooperates with a similar ball race 44 to form a thrust bearing in which the races are spaced by balls 45. The ball race 44 is provided on its inner surface with spaced brackets 46 that are pivotally connected with the shafts 26, at 41; the axes of the pivots 41 lie in the same plane as the axes of the pivots 48, that connect the gimbal ring 3'! with the brackets 36. The ball race plates 43a and 44 have central openings through which the shank 49 of the plunger 50 extends.

The ball race 44 is also provided with spaced, inwardly extending lugs 5|.

.Shaft 26 has an axial opening 52 in which is slidably mounted a rod 53 having a head 54 projecting from one side thereof. Head 54 is removable and threadedly connected to the end of the rod 53. Shaft 26 has a slot 55 in which the head 54 may slide. A connecting rod or link 56 has one end provided with a slot 51 for the reception of the head 54 and is connected to the latter by means of the pivot pin I55. The other end of link 56 is positioned between the brackets 5I and is connected to them by a pivot pin 59. It is now evident that by moving and 53 longitudinally in the shaft, the assembly comprising the foot plate 42, ball races 43a, 44 and gimbal ring 31 will tilt about the axes of pivots 58 and in this way the plane of the thrust bearing can be adjusted to any desired angle with respect to the axis of rotation, thereby producing a wabble of the foot plate. It will be remembered that the gimbal ring 31 is pivoted to the brackets 36 and that the annular bases 35 are interconnected by means of a connecting rod 46 that in turn is attached to the eccentric by a connecting rod 29. If the eccentricity of the eccentric were zero, it is evident that the foot plates would remain in a fixed position as far as any rotary motion about the axis of the shaft is concerned.

The only motion of the plates 42 is a wabble motion, about the centers or rings 31 whose extent depends on the angular relation between the plane of the thrust bearing and the axis of the shaft.

Since foot plates 42 have their surfaces above the center of wabble, it is evident that whenever they are inclined to the axis of shaft 26,

and the latter rotates, every point in the surface of the foot plates will travel in a circle.

Owing to the eccentricity of the eccentric, the annular bases 35, the gimbal ring and the foot plateattached thereto will oscillate about-the axis of the shaft as the latter rotates, thereby giving to the foot plates an oscillating movement in addition to the wabble.

Means is provided for effecting an adjustment of the angular extent of the wabble and this will now be explained.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 6, it will be noted that the frame I9 is provided with two parts 59 that project outwardly across the lines representing the axes of the shafts 26.

opening 63 extending inwardly through one side.

The rod 53 has a neck 64 that is engaged by portions of the sleeve 62 and therefore whenever the threaded member 69 is rotated, it will move longitudinally and impart a corresponding movement to therod 53, thereby adjusting the angularity of the wabble. It will be observed that the connection between rod 53 and sleeve 62 is such as to permit relative rotation but to inhibit relative longitudinal movement. A look nut 65 serves to clamp the screw and hold it in adjusted position. By means of'the adjusting mechanism just described, the angularity of the wabble can be adjusted from a minimum to a maximum while the machine is operating.

It is frequently desirable to apply a vibratory force to the sole of the foot and for this purpose'plungers 50 have been provided, and these are given a reciprocating movement by the means which will now be described.

Shaft 26 has a transverse opening 66 that extends at right angles to the radial direction of the slot 56 and positioned in this opening is a bar 61 having its ends provided with trunnions on which the rollers 66 are journaled. Member 34 is provided with a cam surface having diametrically positioned high portions 63 and corresponding, diametrically positioned low points III. A circular plunger II has a threaded connection with the bar '61 and extends outwardly in the opening 52 to a point near the end of the shaft where it contacts with the inner end of the part 49. When the shaft rotates, the bar 61 is also rotated and the rollers follow the cam surface of member 34, and when the latter has two high and two low surfaces, the plunger 50 will make two reciprocations for each revolution of the shaft.

The frame l9 and attached parts are also adjustable about the center of the hubs I8 of the bearings I5 and this adjustment is effected by a means that has been shown in Fig. 3 and which will now be described.

The base I9 is provided with two spaced lugs I2 between which and to which the lower end of the tubular nut I3 is pivoted. The frame I9 has a downwardly ranging integral arm 14 through which extends a bolt I5 having a spherical enlargement I6 that is positioned in a spheri- 4 strapped in position by means of the straps 90 and 8|. The wabble of the plates is usually adjusted to a minimum. The motor is now started and the foot plates will begin to wabble to an extent dependent on the adjustment and the wabble can be increased during operation to the maximum for the particular patient.

The foot plates are also given an oscillatory motion by means of the eccentric and the connecting rods 29 and 4D. The plunger 5| is selected of such length that it presses gently against the sole of the foot and is given a reciprocatory motion by the cooperation of the cam 34, rollers 69 and cooperating parts.

It will thus be seen that the feet are subjected simultaneously to three separate movements, (1)

a wabble movement about a point, (2) an oscil-' 26 and (3) a bending movement effected by the plungers 5|.

By means of the screw 16 (Fig. 3) the frame l9 can be tilted about the axis of the shaft ll and in this way an adjustment is eifected that is highly useful in suiting the machine to individual feet.

The combination of means for simultaneously imparting wabble and oscillatory movement to the feet is highly important.

The points about which the plates wabble are positioned somewhere along the axes of the shafts 26 and below the center of the'soles and therefore if the foot plates are oscillated simultaneously with the wabble, the toes and heels move in a closed path resembling the figure zero,

providing the foot plates are oscillated once during each wabble. If the mechanism is changed so as to make two oscillations during each wabble cycle, the toes and heels will move in closed paths resembling the figure 8, It is, of course, a simple matter to alter the mechanism so that the foot plates will be oscillated either faster or slower than they are wabbled.

As pointed outabove, whenever the foot plates are adjusted to wabble every point in their surfaces will travel in a circle due to the fact that the point of wabble is located below the surfaces of the plates.

By selecting plungers with shanks of the proper length, adjustments can be made to fit feet having different height arches and since the heel and the toe are anchored to the foot plate, the plungers will bend the foot when it is moved outwardly and permit it to straighten when it moves inwardly, thereby subjecting it to a flexing movement that serves to strengthen the ligaments of the metatarsal bones.

The movements produced by this machine may be duplicated by the hands of a skilled operator, but the manual manipulation will lack the uniformity of the machine treatment.

In the embodiment illustrated the parts are so arranged that the foot plates make'one complete oscillation for each complete wabble and consequently the heel and toe of each foot travels in closed paths. The paths may be circular, elliptical or oblong, depending on the relative extent of the wabble. If the wabble is smaller in extent than the oscillation, the paths will be elongated ovals; if the up and down motion of the wabble is equal in extent to the oscillation the closed path will approach a circle and if the up and down motion, due to the wabble is greater than the transverse movement of oscillation, the paths will be ovals whose major axes extend up and down. Ifthe relationship of the wabble and the oscillation devices were changed so that there were two oscillations for each complete wabble, the paths of the toe and heel would resemble the It is evident that the paths of the heel and the toe are the resultant of the two motions and that the shapes of the curves described by a point on the heel and/or the toe can be greatly varied by changing the relative speeds of the oscillations and the wabbles. In the device illustrated,

the closed curve approaches in shape a circle.

mu1taneous oscillation about their pivots, means parting to the plate a wabble motion about the pivot.

2. A foot exercising machine, comprising in combination, a base, a foot plate supported thereby for universal movement about a pivot, means 5 for oscillating the plate about its pivot, a plunger element carried by the plate, means for reciprocating the plunger, and means for imparting to the plate a wabble motion about the pivot.

3. A foot exercising machine, comprising in 10 combination, a base, afoot plate supported thereon for universal movement about a pivot, means for oscillating the plate about the pivot, means for imparting to the plate a wabble motion about the pivot, and means for adjusting the extent of the wabble while the foot plate is in motion;

5. A foot exercising machine, comprising in combination, a base, a foot plate supported thereon for universal movement about a pivot, means for oscillating the plate about the pivot, a plunger element carried by the plate for reciprocation, means for reciprocating the plunger, means for -imparting to the plate a wabble motion about the pivot, and means for adjusting the extent of the wabble.

6. A foot exercising machine, comprising in combination, a base, two footplates supported thereon for universal movement about spaced pivots, means for, interconnecting the plates for simultaneous oscillation about their pivots, means for oscillating the plates, a plunger carried by each plate and mounted for reciprocation, means for reciprocating the plungers, and means for imparting to the two plates a simultaneous and equal wabble motion about their pivots.

7. A foot exercising machine, comprising in combinatioma base, two foot plates supported thereon for universal movement about spaced pivots, means interconnecting the plates for sifor imparting to the plates a simultaneous wabble motion about their pivots andv means for adjusting the extent of the wabble.

8. A .foot exercising machine comprising in combination, a base, a bearing supported thereon, a hollow shaft mounted for rotation in the bearing, a wabble plate attached to the shaft and supported for rocking motion about an axis that intersects and is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, means comprising a bar positioned in the shaft for adjusting the angular relation between the plane of the plate and the axis of the shaft, a foot plate operatively associated with the wabble plate, means for holding the foot plate in parallel. relation to the wabble plate while permitting relative rotary movement, whereby the foot plate will have a wabble movement corresponding to that of the wabble plate when the two plates rotate relative to each other, and means for holding the foot plate from rotating about the axis of the shaft when the latter turns.

9. A foot exercising machine comprising in combination, a base, a bearing supported thereon, 75

a hollow shaft mounted for rotation in the bearing, a wabble plate attached to the shaft and supported for rocking motion about an axis that intersects and is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, means passing through the shaft for adjusting the angular relation between the plane of the plate and the axis of the shaft, a foot plate operatively associated with the wabble plate, means for holding the foot plate in parallel relation to the wabble plate while permitting relative rotary movement, whereby the foot plate will have a wabble movement corresponding to that of the wabble plate when the two plates rotate relative to each other, means for holding the foot plate from rotating about the axis of the shaft when the latter turns, and means for oscillating the foot plate about the axis of the shaft while the latter turns.

10. A foot exercising machine comprising in combination, a base, a bearing supported thereon, a shaft mounted for rotation in the bearing, a wabble plate attached to the shaft and supported for rocking motion about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, means for adjusting the angular relation between the plane of the plate and the axis of the shaft, a foot plate operatively associated with the wabble plate, means for holding the foot plate in parallel relation to the wabble plate while permitting relative rotary movement, whereby the foot plate will have a wabble movement corresponding to that of the wabble plate when the two plates rotate relative to each other, means for holding the foot plate from rotating about the axis of the shaft when the latter turns, a plunger extending through the foot plate, and means for reciprocating the plunger when the shaft rotates.

11. A foot exercising machine comprising in combination, a base, a bearing supported thereon, a shaft mounted for rotation in the bearing, a wabble plate attached to the shaft and supported for rocking motion about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, means for adjusting the angular relation between the while the latter turns, a plunger extending through the foot plate, and means operated by the rotation of the shaft for reciprocating the plunger.

12. In a foot muscle exercising machine, a bearing, a shaft mounted for rotation in the bearing, two diametrically spaced brackets attached to the bearing, a gimbal ring encircling the shaft and pivoted to the brackets, a wabble plate attached to the shaft for rocking motion about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, means for adjusting the angular relation between the plane of the plate and the axis of the shaft, a foot plate pivotally attached to the gimbal ring at points spaced 90 degrees from the pivots of the ring, the gimbal ring serving to hold the foot plate a predetermined position relative to the wabble plate whereby when the shaft rotates the foot plate will move in unison with the movable plate, and means for adjusting the gimbal ring rotarially about the axis of the shaft.

13. In a foot muscle exercising 1 machine, a bearing, a shaft mounted for rotation in the bearing, two diametrically spaced brackets attached to the bearing, a gimbal ring encircling the shaft and pivoted to the brackets, a wabble plate attached to the shaft for rocking motion about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, means for adjusting the angular relation between the plane of the plate and the axis of the shaft, a foot plate pivotally attached to the gimbal ring at points spaced 90 degrees from the pivots of the ring, the gimbal ring serving to hold the foot plate a predetermined position relative to the wabble plate whereby when the shaft rotates the foot plate will move in unison with the wabble plate, and means for oscillating the gimbal ring about the axis of the shaft as the latter rotates.

14. A foot exercising machine comprising in combination, a base, a frame carried thereby, two spaced parallel bearings therein, a tubular shaft in each bearing, means for rotating the shafts in unison, a bracket ring mounted on the frame for oscillatory movement about the axis of the shaft, means interconnecting the bracket rings for synchronous oscillation, means responsive to the rotation of one shaft for oscillating the bracket rings, each ring having two opposite brackets, a gimbal ring pivoted on diametrically opposed points to the brackets and in concentric :relation with the axis of the shaft, a wabble plate mounted on each axis for rocking movement about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, means comprising a rod slidable in each shaft for adjusting the angular relation between the plane of the wabble plate and the axis of the shaft to which it is attached, a foot plate associated with each wabble plate, the foot plate having each two brackets that are pivotedly connected to the gimbal ring at points spaced 90 degrees from the pivotsof the ring, the latter serving to hold the foot plate in a predetermined position relative to the wabble plate so that the foot plate may always remain parallel with the latter.

15. A foot muscle exercising machine comprising incombination, a base having an upwardly extending supporting bracket provided near its upper end with a horizontal bearing, a shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing, means for rotating the shaft, a main frame supported on the bracket for angular adjustment about the axis of the bearing, the main frame having a bearing near each end, a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in each of the last named bearings, the axes of the hollow shafts being substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular to the axis of the first mentioned shaft, means comprising bevel gears for transmitting movement from the first mentioned shaft to the hollow shafts, a thrust bearing member carried by the outer ends of the hollow shafts and attached to the latter for limited rocking movement about an axis perpendicular to the shaft, the bearing member having a bearing surface whose plane intersects the axis of the shaft, means comprising a rod slidable in the hollow shaft for tilting the bearing member about the pivotal connection whereby the bearing surface will wabble when the shaft is rotated, a foot plate having one side provided with a bearing surface that cooperates with the first mentioned bearing surface means for rockably supporting the foot plate whereby it can wabble in unison with the first mentioned bearing surface, and means for holding the plate from rotating.

16. In a foot muscle exercising machine, a subcombination comprising a tubular shaft, a foot plate carried by one end of the shaft and mounted for universal movement, and means for tilting the plate relative to the axis of the shaft, comprising a rod extending through the shaft, and means for connecting the rod with the plate.

17. In a foot muscle exercising machine, -a frame having a bearing, a tubular shaft journalled in the bearing, a ball race forming part of a thrust bearing connected with the shaft by means permitting adjustment about a diametrical axis perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, the shaft having an opening communicating the axial opening, a rod slidable in the axial opening and provided with a head extending through the opening in the wall of the shaft and means for effecting a connection between the head and the .ball race whereby the latter will be angularly below the sole of the foot and to a simultaneous oscillating movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the sole of the foot whereby the toes and the heel will travel in closed curves approximating in shape the letter O, and means for simultaneously subjecting the sole of the foot to a vibratory force tending to bow-the arch and to permit it to straighten.

19. In a foot corrective device,'a hollow driven shaft; a swash plate rockably attached to an end of said shaft and rotatably with said shaft;

means comprising a member positioned in the opening in the shaft for adjusting the angle of y for tilting in a vertical plane, a platform positioned above said frame supported for tilting in a vertical plane at right angles to said first mentioned plane, means comprising a tiltable swash plate for actuating said frame and said platform to impart to the latter a wabble motion, and means fortilting the swash plate to vary the extent of wabble.

21. In combination with a support, a frame' pivotally secured thereto about a horizontal axis, a plate pivotally secured .to said frame upon an axis lying below 'the top surface thereof to provide a gimbal joint, means for maintaining said plate in sloping position and imparting thereto a universal tilting motion, and means for adjust- 30 ing the slope of the plate while it is tilting.

CHARLES W. CLARK. 

